The Book Club is Before Us
Writing prof’s novel is the inaugural choice for KPU Reads
Aislinn Hunter, award-winning poet and novelist, shared the prologue and first chapter of her newest book, The World Before Us, at KPU Reads on Jan. 20. Hunter, who is also a creative writing instructor at Kwantlen Polytechnic University. She was accompanied by Kwantlen Polytechnic University president Alan Davis, who provided the reading.
Following Davis’s reading there were two major announcements. The first was that the event signalled the launch of KPU’s new book club, which will start with readings from Hunter’s novel. The second was for the establishment of the First Chapter Contest, where students can submit the first chapter of their book to win a manuscript consultation with Hunter.
Every seat at the inaugural KPU Reads was full, leaving excess attendees to stand listening in the back.
“I spent the summer reading this book,” says Davis of the decision to launch KPU Reads with Hunter’s novel, “and at one point I had to email Aislinn to say, ‘I don’t want it to end.’” The World Before Us is Hunter’s sixth book and has already received multiple awards including the Ethel Wilson Fiction Prize for 2015.
The book is about Jane, an archivist in London who is trying to solve the disappearance of a woman who vanished over 125 years ago. Hunter insists that it’s not a mystery book, but that “[She] wanted to talk about how the past is always with us … the idea of trauma and how sometimes, one moment can just change your life.”
The book club is going to read and discuss Hunter’s novel one-third at a time. “The conversations at one level are about what’s happening in the book and then a little bit of help if you are trying to write yourself,” says Hunter. The goal for the book club is to get together not only students but also staff on campus.
The First Chapter Contest is an opportunity for students interested in writing to get professional advice on the first chapter of their book. If an entire book was completed, Hunter could also offer coaching and more advice on what’s working and what needs improvement.
The first meeting is taking place Feb. 13 at KPU Surrey Library, more information can be found here.
